Fire-escape



(No Model. ZSheets-S-heet 1. G. B. JOHNSON. FIRE ESCAPE No. 490,355. Patented 'Jan'. 24, 1893 (No Model.) ,2' Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. B. JOHNSON.

FIRE ESCAPE No. 490.355. Pal; ted' Jan. 24, 1893.

Nrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE JOHNSON, OF WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 490,355, dated January 24, 1893.

Application filed July 2, 1892- Serial No. 438,783. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE B.JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilkes-Barr, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of fire escapes wherein a basket or car is raised before a burning building, to receive the inmates.

The object of my invention is to make a more strong, convenient, and serviceable escape than those heretofore in use.

\Vith this object in view, my invention consists in the peculiarities of construction and combinations of parts as will be more fully explained hereinafter and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my complete apparatus. Fig. 2 represents a portion of the lazy tongs sections extended, as when in use. Fig. 3 represents a front elevation of the lazy tongs sections and their immediate connections, the sections being broken off.

A suitable truck a supports my device, and revolubly mounted thereon is a turntable b, whereby the apparatus can be turned in any desired direction. On one side of the center of the turntable b is a rigid tower 0, having at its highest point a pulley d. Raised a suitable distance above the base of the tower c, is a framework e, secured to two sides of the tower, its ends projecting beyond the other two sides thereof. Journaled in these ends are reels f and g, each being provided with suitable cranks whereby they are rotated. The reel fis provided at one end with a ratchet f and with which engages a suitable pawl f The shaft that supports the reel 9 has an extension projecting beyond one side of the frame 6, and upon this extension is fixed a drum h. On the turntable Z and to one side of the tower c, is fixed an upright portion ito which is secured a flexible metallic strap '5'; said strap passes around the wheel h and its free end is secured to a lever i pivoted on the upright portion i.

Pivoted on the turntable b and diametrically opposite the tower c, are two pivoted supporting posts 75 and It, provided at their upper ends with pulleys k On the outsides and between the upper ends and base of the posts k, k are projecting brackets Z, having reels Z journaled in their outer ends, said reels being actuated by suitable cranks. One end of the reels is provided with ratchet teeth, which receive the nose of a suitable pawl Z said pawl being pivoted on the posts. Near their base the posts are provided with rings m, which receive the crooked ends of hooks m, said hooks being secured to the turntable at the base of the tower c. Pivoted between the posts 10 and Zcis a pair of lazy tongs n. The tongs are made of sections, the sections at the base and top being made of different lengths whereby the corresponding joints, throughout the length of the tongs, are out of an alignment with each other perpendicular to the side edges of the tongs. The tongs will thus stand a greater strain than if the sections were of the same length and the joint placed in alignment, as has usually heretofore been the custom.

The top of the lazy tongs is provided with vertical and lateral projections o and 0, each having flat-grooved pulleys 0 and 0 The sections of the tongs nearest the tower, are provided with guides 19, in which runs a flat metallic hoisting rope q. One end of said rope is connected to the reel 9 and the opposite end thereof passes over the flat grooved o pulleys o and o and is secured to a car 7'. Hooks .9 look the tongs between the posts is and lo, whereby the posts are made rigid with the tongs, and when the tongs are raised the posts are thus made to move in 5 unison therewith. To further secure the tongs together when in raised poition, I provide hooks twhich hold the sections together.

A tong adjusting rope U is secured to the tongs about midway of their length, and its free end is passed over the pulley d i in the top of the tower c and it is then'oonnectedto the reel f. By means of this adjusting rope to the tongs may be inclined toward a building to facilitate the operation of removing people therefrom, yet allowing the base to be placed at a suitable distance from the building and thus protecting the tiremen from the heat.

To raise the lazy tongs I provide hoisting ropes 'v secured to the tongs near their base. The rope is passed over the pulleys k in the top of the posts 7a, 1a and connected to the reels Z.

When using my device the truck a is drawn to a desirable position, and the crank of the reels Z turned in a direction to wind the hoisting ropes o thereon. The tongs are thus raised to a vertical position, and after being raised the hooks s are placed in position, thereby locking the tongs rigidly with the posts 70 and 7a. The tongs can now be inclined toward the burning house the lateral extension 0 resting against the cornice there of. The basket or car 0" can now be raised by turning the reel g. If it is necessary to rescue people from the next house, the turntable 1) can readily be revolved to any desired position.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

The combination in a fire escape, of a turn table mounted upon a suitable base, a tower located at one side of said table, windingdrums upon two sides of the tower, a pulley at the top of the tower, posts pivoted to the table at a point diametrically opposite that of the tower, drums located on the outer side of the posts, pulleys journaled in the top of the posts, lazy-tongs pivoted between the said posts, hoisting ropes secured to said sections and passing over said pulleys in the top of the posts and winding on the drums on the outside thereof, and a car hoisting cable passing over the sections and winding on one of the drums on the tower, all arranged and adapted to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLARENCE l3. JOHNSON. Witnesses:

HARRY BROWN, BYRON JOHNSON. 

